What Are the Causes of Adult-Onset Diabetes?

Do You Know the Factors Behind Adult-Onset Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes, formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, is the most prevalent version of the illness, changing the day to day lives of more than 23.6 million Americans, according to the American Diabetes Association. Links to genetic, environmental and lifestyle influences have been created, but there doesn't appear to be a single causative factor for developing the disease. Each factor may play an interdependent function with the next. The ADA reports that while type 1 leads to an impairment of the cells ability to utilize insulin efficiently; this State is known as insulin resistance. Genetic influences, metabolic syndrome and pre-diabetes are related to growing insulin resistance.

Pre-Diabetes

Pre-diabetes is the existence of higher-than-normal amounts of circulating glucose in the bloodstream. Often there are no symptoms to alert a person and the if not diagnosed the condition eventually can lead to type 2 diabetes. Overweight body composition, obesity and inactivity contribute to the problem. The ADA Reports losing weight, making healthful dietary changes and raising activity by participating in a program of exercise lowers the risk for metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes and adult-onset diabetes substantially.

Genetic and Environmental Factors

The genetic connections of type 2 diabetes are more apparent in people from Westernized Nations including America and Europe. There is a connection between Geographical locations and lifestyles choices like unhealthy dietary customs and lack of physical activities. Individuals with the greatest risk for diabetes are African Americans, Mexican Americans and Pima Indians.

Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome leads to developing type 2 diabetes, based on ADA information. It defines the syndrome as the presence of three or more of the following conditions that transcend standard values: Waist measurement over 40 inches, 35 for females; below normal HDL cholesterol levels; above standard amounts of triglycerides; blood pressure readings in excess of 135/85 mmHg; and fasting blood sugar levels over 100.

Insulin Resistance

Food enters the bloodstream to be converted into energy by insulin. It's the duty of insulin to transport glucose to the cells of the body from the blood. If there's inadequate insulin or when it is not effectively utilized, the glucose exibits a condition referred to as hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. By producing more insulin to convert the blood that is circulating, the pancreas converts glucose to energy but the cells that are afflicted are not able to engage in the process. Sustained hyperglycemia contributes to complications when cells are not receiving the stores of glucose they need for survival.